Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Shubhanshu Shukla Recalls Seeing India's Flag Aboard ISS
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla met students at a school in New Delhi.
He told them about his time on the International Space Station.
On his third day there, he saw India's flag and heard Hindi during a radio check.
He said this made him feel proud and connected to India.
Shukla encouraged students not to let fear stop them from trying.
He said preparation, confidence and effort can help people face hard tasks.
He also explained that being a fighter pilot and an astronaut bring different challenges.
He spoke about India's future plans for space travel, including sending an Indian to the Moon by 2040.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla spoke with students at Birla Vidya Niketan in New Delhi about his space mission and career.
He recalled seeing the Indian Tricolour and hearing Hindi during a radio check on his third day aboard the International Space Station.
Shukla told students, "Fear is in the mind, not in reality," and encouraged them to prepare, act with confidence and pursue their goals.
He said being a fighter pilot and an astronaut involve different challenges, and described perseverance and learning from setbacks as important.
Shukla discussed India's Gaganyaan mission, a proposed Indian space station and the goal of sending an Indian to the Moon by 2040.
- Who
- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and students from around 21 schools.
- What
- Shukla shared memories of his space mission and advice about confidence, perseverance and learning.
- When
- At a recent school programme; the flag-and-Hindi moment occurred on his third day aboard the International Space Station.
- Where
- Birla Vidya Niketan in Pushp Vihar, New Delhi; the recalled moment took place aboard the International Space Station.
- Why
- The programme gave students an opportunity to hear about Shukla's experiences, career challenges and India's space ambitions.
- Speaker
- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
- School
- Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi
- Schools represented
- Around 21
- Recalled moment
- On his third day aboard the International Space Station, Shukla saw the Indian Tricolour and heard Hindi during a radio check.
- India's first space traveller
- Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma travelled to space in 1984.
- Shukla's space journey
- The article says Shukla travelled to space in 2025, 41 years after Sharma.
- Moon goal
- The article says India aims to send an Indian to the Moon by 2040.